Hahndorf Truck Diversion

Mr BROWN (Florey) (14:59): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister inform the house of actions taken to reduce truck impacts on the main street of Hahndorf and reactions to those announcements?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (15:00): I thank the Chair of the Public Works Committee for his strong interest in all things Hahndorf. Hahndorf is a South Australian icon, Mr Speaker, as you would know. It's a historic town and it's a major tourism drawcard. The amenity is part of its appeal for both locals and tourists alike. It's clear from significant advocacy from both the local community and, Mr Speaker, yourself, that there has been ongoing and substantial concern about the large trucks on Hahndorf's main street.

Last Thursday, I announced that we would be instituting a truck ban throughout Hahndorf. This will divert trucks that have no reason to be in Hahndorf from the township. The latest initiative complements our previous announcements for upgrades to the freeway interchanges at Mount Barker and Verdun, providing easy access to the freeway without carving up the local community, unlike the original plan that wasn't implemented by the previous government. That previous plan was ready to go well before the last election.

I suppose the question that I pose to members opposite, who are now yelling out, 'Build the bypass!', is: given the designs were ready, why wasn't it announced? Why was an announcement on the bypass in Hahndorf delayed? Could it be because they had concerns about what was going on in Paechtown and Beerenberg? I suspect it was. The state government will install 'no trucks over 15 metres in length' signage, alerting drivers to the changed entry rules, with exemptions only if they are taking freight to the main street businesses or other destinations within Hahndorf.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The same way we police other ones. My young friend—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Florey, member for Hartley!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: My young friend ultimately worked this out.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The measure, which will be policed to ensure compliance, will remove almost all large heavy vehicles from the main street, a reduction of around 130 per day. Trucks with no business in the township will be diverted to alternative routes, such as River Road and Strathalbyn Road. These options will be enhanced by improvements to River Road, including shoulder sealing, tree trimming, along with intersection improvements at Kangaroo Reef Road, Sawmill Gully Road and Fairview Road. In addition, improvements to the Strathalbyn-River road and Mount Barker-River road junctions are planned, along with improvements along the Strathalbyn Road.

This decision has received significant positive commentary. The Hahndorf Community Association President, Greg Lomax, said on radio on Friday, and I quote:

…we're delighted they've come up with a solution because the transit of heavy vehicles has been a safety issue and a community concern for decades.

He went on to say, quote:

…this is what happens when people look into things properly, they consider the possibilities, the professionals apply their expertise, and they've found a way.

There was a little bit of a different reaction from the opposition when they doubled down on their original plan. The member for Hammond, the spokesperson for the Adelaide Hills, said, quote:

We had a plan that was instigated by us as the Liberals and the State Government and the Federal Government—$250 million to get a proper freight bypass around Hahndorf, and, yes, there was going to be some land taken up and some of Beerenberg Farm was going to be some of that but apart from that…

'Apart from that', the opposition thinks. If I ever hear members opposite talking about pristine farmland being carved up for roads ever again, I will remind them—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Member for West Torrens, there is a—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There's a point of order from the member for Morialta, which I will hear.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98: the minister is debating.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The member for Hammond has had two forays with local government politics with respect to the Adelaide Hills: one, condemning the government's decision on the Bird in Hand Terramin mine and then, the second one, not carving up—

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —Beerenberg and Paechtown.

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I can see the smile on the member for Heysen's face.

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Premier, I think the member for Hammond's views are well and truly on the record. We don't need to give him the call on this one.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!